In the South, strawberry and rhubarb are more commonly associated with spring recipes and flavors. After all, they’re two of the first fruits and vegetables to pop up after winter’s long chill. But we’re welcoming Costco’s newest pastries, which feature the iconic dessert duo, with open arms here in deep summer.
The Kirkland Signature Strawberry Rhubarb Pastries, which have only been on shelves at the warehouse stores for a few days if social media reports are to be believed, are bright, fresh, and fruity. Each all-butter pastry is about the length of a dollar bill, and they’re generously filled with a strawberry-rhubarb mixture that is tender and juicy. Another layer of pastry sits atop the mixture and is covered in crystal sugar, which adds a nice sweetness to contrast the tart filling, as well as a delicate crunch in each bite.
We tried the pastries after picking up a box from our Birmingham, Alabama-area warehouse store, and we were pleasantly surprised. The pastry has a bit of a sogginess to it, which is to be expected with a real-fruit filling. But it’s still buttery and rich, and all the layers very much hold even after storage. The filling was the best part: It’s not too sweet, not too tart, and makes you dream of those early spring days when you get the first strawberries of the season.
On Reddit, one fan wrote, “I need another one too because I finished the whole box this morning. The family loves it so I hope they still are selling it even though I just bought it last weekend. I notice sometimes it’s only our for a short time or they switch the flavors.”
That’s a great point—many of these releases are for a limited time, and we have no way of knowing when they’ll no longer be available. A box of nine pastries is selling for $10.99. (Prices do vary, however.)
If your eyes go a little weak when you see a lot of holes or patterns, you might need to pass on this treat. In some social media posts, fans report that the appearance of the pastries is a bit too much for folks who might experience a little trypophobia (which is not an official disorder but most certainly is real—if you know, you know).
But that didn’t stop one Costco fan who wrote on an Instagram post, “I LOVE the look of these pastries. Strawberry rhubarb pastries are on my list for tonight’s shopping trip!”
If you do get a box, follow our advice if you can, and heat up the pastry before eating it. A few seconds in a microwave—or better yet, an air fryer—will bring back some of that crispness and fresh-from-the-oven warmth.
A few weeks ago, Costco fans began spotting new blueberry caramelized cheesecake croissants in club stores (though we’ve yet to get them at ours), so it seems Costco is in a creative mood lately and trying all kinds of new things with their bakery offerings. Keep them coming, Costco! We’re big fans.
Read the original article on Southern Living
Dining and Cooking